A person with a binge-eating disorder consumes a large amount of food within two hours, and does it often. Having a binge eating disorder means being unable to control the amount of food consumed. You are unable to stop eating, even when you are full.

Most of us overeat from time to time, and many people often feel they've eaten more than they should have. But, does this mean we are "binge eaters?" Probably not: Eating a lot of food does not always mean that a person has an eating problem.

How Common Is Binge Eating?

Binge eating disorder is a relatively recently
recognized disorder and is thought by some to be the
most common of the eating disorders.

About 2% of all adults in the U.S. (as many as 4 million Americans) have
binge eating disorder. About 10% to 15% of people who are mildly obese and who
try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight-loss programs have
this condition. The disorder is even more common in people who are severely
obese.

Unlike other eating disorders -- such as bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa
-- a substantial number of men suffer from binge eating disorder, but it is
still more common in women. It is more common among the severely overweight, but
can be found among people of any weight.

What Causes Binge Eating Disorder?

No one knows for sure what causes binge eating
disorder, but there are several factors that are thought
to contribute. Genetics and biology seem to play a role
in the development of the disease. Researchers are
actively studying how abnormalities in levels of certain
neurochemicals in the brain can contribute to binge
eating. Individual psychology is also thought to play a
role: about 50% of people with binge eating disorder
suffer from depression, and it is thought that negative
emotions -- anxiety, shame, and guilt -- contribute to
out-of-control eating behaviors. Social and cultural
factors also likely play a role in binge eating
disorder, as food can become a way to show love, get
comfort, or even induce guilt. The food industry and
wide availability of processed foods can make it more
difficult to be in tune with what will nourish our
bodies. As well, Western culture emphasizes a desire for
thinness. Many people with binge eating disorder have
been on multiple diets.